Yakasah Wehyee - Falcon Heights City Council Candidate
Name: Yakasah Wehyee
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-802-2239
Campaign Website: https://www.yakasahwehyee.com/
Facebook Page: @yakasahwehyeeforfalconheightscitycouncil
Candidate Bio
I was born in Liberia and immigrated to the US as a refugee at the age of six. I attended primary and secondary schools in the Minneapolis school district and graduated from St. Francis high school. My commitment to public service developed in these formative years where I organized National Night-outs and other community events and served as student council president.
I attended Hamline University where I obtained my Bachelor of Arts degree, double majoring in Political Science and History. Like many college students from working-class backgrounds, I paid for my education through student loans and work. In addition to balancing my academic and extracurricular responsibilities, I also worked two jobs during the academic year and spent the summer months working part-time.
My wife and I moved to Falcon Heights following my acceptance into the Political Science Ph.D. program at the University of Minnesota. We were drawn to CTC because of its proximity to the University campus and the affordable livability and comforts of Falcon Heights. I possess many years of leadership and community engagement experiences including; Community Organizer for APAC, Sr. Fellow for the McVay Program, and Program Manager for the YMCA of Greater Twin Cities.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Falcon Heights?
Being that 2/3 of Falcon Heights is non-taxable because much of the land area belongs to the University of Minnesota campus as well as the State Fairgrounds, commercial business is limited. Much of the city's commercial businesses are located along the Snelling and Larpenteur corridor. Given the prime location of most of these businesses and the amicable relationship that exists between our businesses, residents, and city, I would characterize the general business climate in Falcon Heights as good.
2. What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Falcon Heights?
The role of the city is to represent the voice and interests of its residents and local businesses. The best way to facilitate this is by enforcing existing ordinances relating to businesses and exercising flexibility in hearing the requests of businesses seeking variances.
The best way to solicit and retain new and existing businesses is through sound city management. In this effort, I will work closely with the city administration as well as other council members to not only assist in responding to the concerns of residents and businesses but also providing oversight to the city's operations. This will facilitate a friendly and welcoming environment in which businesses can thrive.
Relationships are the key to the success of any organization and social grouping. I will use my community engagement skills to enhance the relationship between our businesses and local government by committing to visiting our businesses regularly to provide them support and connection to their local government so that they feel included in the happenings of the city. Ultimately, what sustains businesses are customers. As a council member, the city of Falcon Heights can count on me to proudly promote local business to my network and beyond.
3. Would you support hiring a business advocate as a member of the city senior staff, to concentrate on business retention and expansion; new business recruitment; and business impact of proposed regulations on the business climate in Falcon Heights?
I do not support hiring a business advocate as a member of the city senior staff. As a council member, my first responsibility is to the citizens of Falcon Heights. Currently, the residents of Falcon Heights are feeling the effects of an increase in their property taxes due to the recent Roseville School District levy increase and our recent contract with the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office. As a result of these new arrangements, the city of Falcon Heights now pays nearly $400,000 more for policing.
Hence, residents have had to pay roughly 24 percent on their property taxes. The average median value home in 2019 pays roughly $198 per year for the city’s portion of increased taxes. This compares to just $22 per year from 2014-2017. Therefore, it would not be fiscally feasible at this time to hire a business advocate as a member of the city senior staff. If the Chamber of Commerce or some other third party would be willing to finance such a position, I would be open to discussing this possibility in the future.
4. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Falcon Heights (such as minimum wage or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in Falcon Heights and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I support increasing the minimum wage at the state and national level but being that most of the businesses in Falcon Heights are small mom-and-pop establishments, it would not be feasible to implement a $15 minimum wage. Small businesses are the bedrock of Falcon Heights and setting such a limit may result in local businesses drastically losing revenue and/or closing down. I would, however, be open to considering a progressive minimum wage system whereby larger businesses that can afford it would be required to increase their minimum wage.
I support mandatory scheduling notice because no one should have to deal with the disruption to their life that occurs when their employer regularly fails to provide the proper notice for work. This stress is not only draining on employees, but it also hurts business through decreasing morale and productivity while retaining great talent.
Public safety
5. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Public safety is essential for the cultivation of a business- and resident-friendly city. My strategy for improving public safety centers around relationship-building and holding our public officials, such as our police and fire departments, accountable to the citizens of Falcon Heights.
This entails the full implementation of the recommendations of the Falcon Heights Policing and Inclusion Task Force, which includes having our officers participate in implicit bias and de-escalation training, holding more meetings between the community and police officers, and establishing a citizens group to monitor police conduct.
Ultimately the goal is to make both our public officers and the residents of our city safer. I believe that the more interaction that occurs between our residents and public officers in friendly structured and unstructured settings, such as National Night Out and the Annual Ice Cream Social, the safer our community will be. It is through such interactions that trust and respect get built between and within communities.
As a council member, I will help lead these efforts by meeting with residents and public officials to improve the communication and interaction between all parties.
Budget
6. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
My primary priorities for the city's budget are (a) passing a resolution to fund the Community Park, (b) passing resolution{s} funding necessary road maintenance (c) Seeking resources to support affordable housing initiatives (d) diversifying the city’s tax base to help attenuate the tax burden of residents and local businesses.
7. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Commercial and property taxes are integral to the functioning of any city. Most residents I've spoken with the understanding that for the city to continue to provide the amenities they enjoy, we all have to pitch in. That said, one of the most important challenges the Falcon Heights City Council must confront is the increased property tax our residents pay as a result of our recent contract with the Ramsey County Sheriff's office.
While many residents appreciate the value of the services provided by the Sheriff’s office, many would like for the council to consider ways to lessen some of the financial constraints of this new arrangement without jeopardizing public safety. To help alleviate some of the financial stress, I would advocate for increasing franchise fees and providing more affordable housing to diversify the city's tax base. I would also consider sending RFPs to other less expensive police departments, as long as the services they provide conform to the values and goals of Falcon Heights and our citizens.
8. What will you do to expand Falcon Heights’s tax base?
My plan for expanding the Falcon Height’s tax base centers on increasing the number of affordable housing options in the city. Not only do I support the new Amber Union project which is projected to provide a 106-unit multi-family affordable housing facility on the southwest corner of Larpenteur and Snelling Avenue, and the Hendrickson Senior housing development, I will work with the city administrator and other stakeholders to seek other development opportunities in the city. I will also advocate increasing the franchise fees which are a reliable source of revenue that cover a broader tax base than property taxes.
Workforce development
9. How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
Falcon Heights is one of the most educated cities in the Twin Cities metro area with most adult residents either working for the University of MN or attending it. The city is home to the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul Campus as well as alumni and students in neighboring universities such as Hamline and Augsburg. Over 40 percent of Falcon Heights’ population lives in rental dwellings such as the University of Minnesota’s Common Terrace Cooperative student housing and 1660 Coffman.
The children of these residents attend k-12 schools in the Roseville School District and are often credited for maintaining the district's consistently high education standards. To ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce, the city must work closely with the University of Minnesota to not only continue to provide good quality affordable housing options for these residents to live but also explore ways to increase the availability of such dwellings. As a current Ph.D. candidate at the University of Minnesota living in a rental home, I will be a fierce advocate for affordable housing.
10. What do you see as the city council's role concerning public schools in Falcon Heights?
The city’s role regarding public schools in the area centers around providing a safe and welcoming community where residents and their families can thrive. By continuing sound city management practices and cultivating a welcoming community where parents can raise their families, the city can continue to condition our schools and students for success.
Other
11. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing the city is actualizing the city’s strategic goal of cultivating a more caring and inclusive community for all of its residents. Central to this is managing the relationship between the city and the Ramsey Council Sheriff's department contract to engender positive community and police relations. To help the city realize this goal, I will be a strong voice to implement the recommendations of the Policing and Inclusion Task Force.
12. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
A safe and welcoming community
At the heart of my campaign is the desire to foster a safe and welcoming community. This means making every member of the Falcon Heights community feel as if they are a valuable member of the community. An integral component of perpetuating community is establishing trust between residents and public officials such as the police, fire department, and council members. I am committed to meeting with our public officers and residents (renters and homeowners alike) to develop strategies around how to better engage the broader community.
Public Infrastructure
One of the most important indicators of a safe and welcoming community is the presence of safe and well-kept public infrastructures such as roads and parks. Residents depend on clean and pothole-free roads to commute from home to work without risk of damaging their vehicles. Well-kept sidewalks allow residents to traverse the city without the risk of injury.
Parks are community hubs where members from a spectrum of backgrounds represented in the city come to engage in leisurely activities. Activities such as family and community picnics, sports, and other outdoor activities foster a cohesive community culture and engender a sense of togetherness. As a member of the Falcon Heights City Council, I will prioritize investing in these important infrastructure needs.
Affordable Housing
Few things convey communal friendliness better than the availability of varied housing options. Quality affordable housing is not a privilege only to be enjoyed by some but is a human right that should be available to all. Because Falcon Heights has little to no vacant private landholdings, meeting the city's housing demands necessitates supporting redevelopment initiatives such as the Amber Union project which is projected to provide a 106-unit multifamily affordable housing facility on the southwest corner of Larpenteur and Snelling Avenue.
To keep rental housing affordable, I will promote rent stabilization which would put a cap on the percentage of rent increase allowed by rental property owners. This will ensure property owners/managers are not jacking up rent beyond the specified AMI percentage of their property. I will visit the approval and permitting process for affordable housing projects and work on streamlining this process as needed. I will advocate for increasing franchise fees to procure more revenue for projects and seek programs to help the city meet its housing goals such as the Minnesota Housing Consolidated Request Proposal and Repair and Rehabilitation Programs.
13. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
The city’s top transportation goals should be investing in the necessary road work needed to provide safe drivable roads and walkable sidewalks for residents in a manner that conform to the city’s resiliency goals.
14. Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Or, are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
Falcon Heights functions based on the philosophy of sharing and contracting for services with actors. The viability of the city depends on sharing and contracting its services such as policing with Ramsey County and engineering services with Roseville. The city must continue to seek Federal, State, and or county housing programs to help meet the housing demand and keep housing affordable.
The Community Park is another opportunity for which the city may share services with one of our neighboring cities such as Lauderdale, a city with whom Falcon Heights currently shares many services, including fire services. There has been great interest in establishing a permanent Philando Castile Memorial in Falcon Heights. This would be a great opportunity to partner with the Castile Foundation and other interested entities.
15. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
The environment is another important issue that I will champion on the city council. While our national and international leaders have been apprehensive in offering bold solutions to address global warming, by taking local measures such as composting and recycling, individuals at the local level can greatly contribute to a cleaner environment. As your councilmember, I will encourage composting and other sustainable practices.
I will also support and promote the city’s energy rebate program offered to residents and businesses to encourage the installation of energy-efficient appliances in homes or businesses. You can also count on me to advocate for stronger enforcement of city ordinances around garbage and composting to ensure our roads and drainage systems are clean. Finally, I will work with all relevant parties to ensure that Falcon Heights is on the right track to meet its environmental goals set out in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-802-2239
Campaign Website: https://www.yakasahwehyee.com/
Facebook Page: @yakasahwehyeeforfalconheightscitycouncil
Candidate Bio
I was born in Liberia and immigrated to the US as a refugee at the age of six. I attended primary and secondary schools in the Minneapolis school district and graduated from St. Francis high school. My commitment to public service developed in these formative years where I organized National Night-outs and other community events and served as student council president.
I attended Hamline University where I obtained my Bachelor of Arts degree, double majoring in Political Science and History. Like many college students from working-class backgrounds, I paid for my education through student loans and work. In addition to balancing my academic and extracurricular responsibilities, I also worked two jobs during the academic year and spent the summer months working part-time.
My wife and I moved to Falcon Heights following my acceptance into the Political Science Ph.D. program at the University of Minnesota. We were drawn to CTC because of its proximity to the University campus and the affordable livability and comforts of Falcon Heights. I possess many years of leadership and community engagement experiences including; Community Organizer for APAC, Sr. Fellow for the McVay Program, and Program Manager for the YMCA of Greater Twin Cities.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Falcon Heights?
Being that 2/3 of Falcon Heights is non-taxable because much of the land area belongs to the University of Minnesota campus as well as the State Fairgrounds, commercial business is limited. Much of the city's commercial businesses are located along the Snelling and Larpenteur corridor. Given the prime location of most of these businesses and the amicable relationship that exists between our businesses, residents, and city, I would characterize the general business climate in Falcon Heights as good.
2. What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Falcon Heights?
The role of the city is to represent the voice and interests of its residents and local businesses. The best way to facilitate this is by enforcing existing ordinances relating to businesses and exercising flexibility in hearing the requests of businesses seeking variances.
The best way to solicit and retain new and existing businesses is through sound city management. In this effort, I will work closely with the city administration as well as other council members to not only assist in responding to the concerns of residents and businesses but also providing oversight to the city's operations. This will facilitate a friendly and welcoming environment in which businesses can thrive.
Relationships are the key to the success of any organization and social grouping. I will use my community engagement skills to enhance the relationship between our businesses and local government by committing to visiting our businesses regularly to provide them support and connection to their local government so that they feel included in the happenings of the city. Ultimately, what sustains businesses are customers. As a council member, the city of Falcon Heights can count on me to proudly promote local business to my network and beyond.
3. Would you support hiring a business advocate as a member of the city senior staff, to concentrate on business retention and expansion; new business recruitment; and business impact of proposed regulations on the business climate in Falcon Heights?
I do not support hiring a business advocate as a member of the city senior staff. As a council member, my first responsibility is to the citizens of Falcon Heights. Currently, the residents of Falcon Heights are feeling the effects of an increase in their property taxes due to the recent Roseville School District levy increase and our recent contract with the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office. As a result of these new arrangements, the city of Falcon Heights now pays nearly $400,000 more for policing.
Hence, residents have had to pay roughly 24 percent on their property taxes. The average median value home in 2019 pays roughly $198 per year for the city’s portion of increased taxes. This compares to just $22 per year from 2014-2017. Therefore, it would not be fiscally feasible at this time to hire a business advocate as a member of the city senior staff. If the Chamber of Commerce or some other third party would be willing to finance such a position, I would be open to discussing this possibility in the future.
4. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Falcon Heights (such as minimum wage or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in Falcon Heights and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I support increasing the minimum wage at the state and national level but being that most of the businesses in Falcon Heights are small mom-and-pop establishments, it would not be feasible to implement a $15 minimum wage. Small businesses are the bedrock of Falcon Heights and setting such a limit may result in local businesses drastically losing revenue and/or closing down. I would, however, be open to considering a progressive minimum wage system whereby larger businesses that can afford it would be required to increase their minimum wage.
I support mandatory scheduling notice because no one should have to deal with the disruption to their life that occurs when their employer regularly fails to provide the proper notice for work. This stress is not only draining on employees, but it also hurts business through decreasing morale and productivity while retaining great talent.
Public safety
5. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Public safety is essential for the cultivation of a business- and resident-friendly city. My strategy for improving public safety centers around relationship-building and holding our public officials, such as our police and fire departments, accountable to the citizens of Falcon Heights.
This entails the full implementation of the recommendations of the Falcon Heights Policing and Inclusion Task Force, which includes having our officers participate in implicit bias and de-escalation training, holding more meetings between the community and police officers, and establishing a citizens group to monitor police conduct.
Ultimately the goal is to make both our public officers and the residents of our city safer. I believe that the more interaction that occurs between our residents and public officers in friendly structured and unstructured settings, such as National Night Out and the Annual Ice Cream Social, the safer our community will be. It is through such interactions that trust and respect get built between and within communities.
As a council member, I will help lead these efforts by meeting with residents and public officials to improve the communication and interaction between all parties.
Budget
6. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
My primary priorities for the city's budget are (a) passing a resolution to fund the Community Park, (b) passing resolution{s} funding necessary road maintenance (c) Seeking resources to support affordable housing initiatives (d) diversifying the city’s tax base to help attenuate the tax burden of residents and local businesses.
7. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Commercial and property taxes are integral to the functioning of any city. Most residents I've spoken with the understanding that for the city to continue to provide the amenities they enjoy, we all have to pitch in. That said, one of the most important challenges the Falcon Heights City Council must confront is the increased property tax our residents pay as a result of our recent contract with the Ramsey County Sheriff's office.
While many residents appreciate the value of the services provided by the Sheriff’s office, many would like for the council to consider ways to lessen some of the financial constraints of this new arrangement without jeopardizing public safety. To help alleviate some of the financial stress, I would advocate for increasing franchise fees and providing more affordable housing to diversify the city's tax base. I would also consider sending RFPs to other less expensive police departments, as long as the services they provide conform to the values and goals of Falcon Heights and our citizens.
8. What will you do to expand Falcon Heights’s tax base?
My plan for expanding the Falcon Height’s tax base centers on increasing the number of affordable housing options in the city. Not only do I support the new Amber Union project which is projected to provide a 106-unit multi-family affordable housing facility on the southwest corner of Larpenteur and Snelling Avenue, and the Hendrickson Senior housing development, I will work with the city administrator and other stakeholders to seek other development opportunities in the city. I will also advocate increasing the franchise fees which are a reliable source of revenue that cover a broader tax base than property taxes.
Workforce development
9. How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
Falcon Heights is one of the most educated cities in the Twin Cities metro area with most adult residents either working for the University of MN or attending it. The city is home to the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul Campus as well as alumni and students in neighboring universities such as Hamline and Augsburg. Over 40 percent of Falcon Heights’ population lives in rental dwellings such as the University of Minnesota’s Common Terrace Cooperative student housing and 1660 Coffman.
The children of these residents attend k-12 schools in the Roseville School District and are often credited for maintaining the district's consistently high education standards. To ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce, the city must work closely with the University of Minnesota to not only continue to provide good quality affordable housing options for these residents to live but also explore ways to increase the availability of such dwellings. As a current Ph.D. candidate at the University of Minnesota living in a rental home, I will be a fierce advocate for affordable housing.
10. What do you see as the city council's role concerning public schools in Falcon Heights?
The city’s role regarding public schools in the area centers around providing a safe and welcoming community where residents and their families can thrive. By continuing sound city management practices and cultivating a welcoming community where parents can raise their families, the city can continue to condition our schools and students for success.
Other
11. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing the city is actualizing the city’s strategic goal of cultivating a more caring and inclusive community for all of its residents. Central to this is managing the relationship between the city and the Ramsey Council Sheriff's department contract to engender positive community and police relations. To help the city realize this goal, I will be a strong voice to implement the recommendations of the Policing and Inclusion Task Force.
12. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
A safe and welcoming community
At the heart of my campaign is the desire to foster a safe and welcoming community. This means making every member of the Falcon Heights community feel as if they are a valuable member of the community. An integral component of perpetuating community is establishing trust between residents and public officials such as the police, fire department, and council members. I am committed to meeting with our public officers and residents (renters and homeowners alike) to develop strategies around how to better engage the broader community.
Public Infrastructure
One of the most important indicators of a safe and welcoming community is the presence of safe and well-kept public infrastructures such as roads and parks. Residents depend on clean and pothole-free roads to commute from home to work without risk of damaging their vehicles. Well-kept sidewalks allow residents to traverse the city without the risk of injury.
Parks are community hubs where members from a spectrum of backgrounds represented in the city come to engage in leisurely activities. Activities such as family and community picnics, sports, and other outdoor activities foster a cohesive community culture and engender a sense of togetherness. As a member of the Falcon Heights City Council, I will prioritize investing in these important infrastructure needs.
Affordable Housing
Few things convey communal friendliness better than the availability of varied housing options. Quality affordable housing is not a privilege only to be enjoyed by some but is a human right that should be available to all. Because Falcon Heights has little to no vacant private landholdings, meeting the city's housing demands necessitates supporting redevelopment initiatives such as the Amber Union project which is projected to provide a 106-unit multifamily affordable housing facility on the southwest corner of Larpenteur and Snelling Avenue.
To keep rental housing affordable, I will promote rent stabilization which would put a cap on the percentage of rent increase allowed by rental property owners. This will ensure property owners/managers are not jacking up rent beyond the specified AMI percentage of their property. I will visit the approval and permitting process for affordable housing projects and work on streamlining this process as needed. I will advocate for increasing franchise fees to procure more revenue for projects and seek programs to help the city meet its housing goals such as the Minnesota Housing Consolidated Request Proposal and Repair and Rehabilitation Programs.
13. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
The city’s top transportation goals should be investing in the necessary road work needed to provide safe drivable roads and walkable sidewalks for residents in a manner that conform to the city’s resiliency goals.
14. Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Or, are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
Falcon Heights functions based on the philosophy of sharing and contracting for services with actors. The viability of the city depends on sharing and contracting its services such as policing with Ramsey County and engineering services with Roseville. The city must continue to seek Federal, State, and or county housing programs to help meet the housing demand and keep housing affordable.
The Community Park is another opportunity for which the city may share services with one of our neighboring cities such as Lauderdale, a city with whom Falcon Heights currently shares many services, including fire services. There has been great interest in establishing a permanent Philando Castile Memorial in Falcon Heights. This would be a great opportunity to partner with the Castile Foundation and other interested entities.
15. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
The environment is another important issue that I will champion on the city council. While our national and international leaders have been apprehensive in offering bold solutions to address global warming, by taking local measures such as composting and recycling, individuals at the local level can greatly contribute to a cleaner environment. As your councilmember, I will encourage composting and other sustainable practices.
I will also support and promote the city’s energy rebate program offered to residents and businesses to encourage the installation of energy-efficient appliances in homes or businesses. You can also count on me to advocate for stronger enforcement of city ordinances around garbage and composting to ensure our roads and drainage systems are clean. Finally, I will work with all relevant parties to ensure that Falcon Heights is on the right track to meet its environmental goals set out in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.